NationalWeatherServicelogoBismarck (CSi) The National Weather Service has issued the Flood & Weather Outlook, through late July 2014.

With the Flood Outlook, for the James River Basin, the weather Service says normal to slightly above normal is the general trend for the flood risk, during the period.

The underlying cause for the risk is the still above normal soil moisture, especially at depth.

The risk is greatest in the time period of April to early May 2014, and with time vegetative use of soil moisture will lower the risk to near normal.

Presently only very small amounts of snow remain in well shaded and shelter area.

Forst is steadily coming out of the ground with most areas now having 20-plus inches of unfrozen soil, above the layer of frost.

 

Soil moisture levels remain about normal at depth even though nominal precipitation and onset of the growing season has lowered soil moisture in the upper several inches.

Rivers and streams are ice-free at this point, and well within their normal range for water levels.

All dams are at or above their full supply level, with the vast majority of their flood control available.

In general, the region has thus far enjoyed a relatively quiet spring.

With the weather outlook through the period the National Weather Service forecast calls for wet and cooler than normal conditions and temperatures, through April 2014.

The one month and three month outlooks, the expectation is for an increase chance for cooler than normal temperatures with an equal chance of below normal, near normal, or above normal precipitation.

 

As of April 25, 2014 the Jamestown Dam release was 400 cfs.  Meanwhile the release at Pipestem Dam was 50 cfs, for a combined release of 450 cfs, and expected to continue the next several weeks pending precipitation amounts.